Storage of Fruits and Veggies to Help Stretch Your Dollar

Nikki Karetov

Objectives

To identify the consequences of food waste and how it applies to you and your family

To recognize how wasted food affects families monetarily

To distinguish what exactly causes fruits and vegetables to expire

To practice newly learned tips and tricks in the home

Food WasteWhat is food waste? – Any food that gets discarded

Where does it come from?

Transportation

Restaurants

The home

How Much is Actually Wasted

According to the Natural Resources Defense Council, 40% of the food in America goes uneaten

That's $165 billion of food per year

Consequences:

Environmental Impacts

Wasted Money

Did You Know??

About 2/3 of wasted food comes from food not being consumed in time?

How Much Money Are We Really Throwing Away?

$22-$43 gets thrown away per month, or about $340-$516 per year

Imagine yourself...

How Does This Impact You and My Family?

The average family of 4 spends between $1,365 to $2,275 on groceries per year according to the Washington Post

$115-$190 per month

Retrieved from www.nrcg.org

Causes

What in particular is causing my produce to go bad?

Ethylene gas

Gas naturally given off by all plants to help it grow and helps with fruit ripening

Gas production is continuous, sometimes causing fruits and veggies to become over-ripe, and eventually moldy, rotten, and in the compost

Tips and Tricks

Refrigeration will slow the rate at which ethylene is produced, however, keep in mind that not all produce should be stored in the refrigerator.

* Identify on handout which belong in the refrigerator and which belong on the counter top to ensure maximum freshness

Tips and Tricks Continued

Demo